Life skills

 

I always knew I wanted to teach the kiddos how to do laundry before they moved off to college or wherever they head when the finally move out. What I didn't foresee was my hand being forced. 

Our washing machine died.

Off to the laundromat, which is a PERFECT opportunity to learn how to wash clothes.

Thing Two helped me load up five loads of clothes ranging from the soaking wet and heavy dog towels used to mop up mess from the uncooperative washer to the usual stuff we wear all the time which was backing up in alarmingly high piles. We lugged it downtown to one of our many laundromats (one of the multitude of perks of a college town) with our own soap and five various baskets/ bags/ hampers. Taught that kid how to look at temps, read tags, to check the machine before you put your stuff in (we found a dime, yay!), to look at the machine's directions before you get started, and that just because a machine SAYS it costs $1.50 to run doesn't mean you're not going to need that extra quarter to fill that last slot taking it to $1.75 anyway, how using vinegar can remove odors and fluff up your towels. I explained how in college it seemed like quarters were more valuable than gold because laundry took so many of them. Being the techie that he is, he loved inspecting the machines and comparing all the dials and knobs. He laughed at the pictures as we made up possible misinterpretations such as adding coffee to your final rinse instead of fabric softener. Our new washer comes tomorrow and I'm betting he will be bummed that he'll be at school instead of quizzing the installation guys. He can now cook most breakfast foods, wash clothes, and hang laundry. Check!

Now "Operator" can also be stuck in your head. You're welcome.

 I'm sure you've heard "New York State of Mind" by Billy Joel or "Pieces of April" by Three Dog Night. I've been living a similar vein, though mine channels Jim Croce. 

I'd been procrastinating on cleaning the bathroom, but figured it was time to wade in. I poured in a glug of toilet bowl cleaner and let it sit awhile with the ceiling fan on. In eyeing our bathtub and noticing the ring around it, I decided it might be a good time to give it a scrub. I got my necessary equipment, wet it down, sprinkled in my soap, and started scrubbing. Assuming that the toilet bowl cleaner had been in there long enough to do its thing, I gave the toilet a quick flush and turned my back on it to resume scrubbing the tub.

It keeps filling. And filling. Finally I notice that hey, waitaminute, that hasn't stopped filling yet!? I grab the plunger with a loud exclamation of, "are you kidding me!?" and give it a few good pumps, but too late. Sure enough, it overflows as I snatch and then fling the bath mat out of the way and start tearing towels out of the bathroom cart to sop up the water. 

I can hear Jim Croce crooning, "isn't that the way they say it goes?" 

I guess the universe just determined that if I was going to clean the bathroom, I may as well clean the bathroom. Come on over. Our floor is mopped and we have freshly laundered towels!

Winter break challenge, indeed

Twas the day before back to school
after a long holiday break.
Mama was prepping kids' backpacks
and lunchboxes for them to take.
Dismayed, she found an assignment
that was due the very next day
despite having asked many times
if such things were hidden away.
The lesson learned: never assume!
Empty the kids' backpacks yourself
so that mad frustration can't bloom
and ruin your prime mental health.
"It's their responsibility!"
You moan, and yes, that part is true.
However, it's your sanity.
Somehow you've got to make it through.
So while one kid reads his eyes out
fervently hoping to get done,
another from the shower shouts
that his fight with soap's not been won.
School clothes are out for tomorrow, 
we know who will pack and who'll buy.
The sun will rise on the morrow
and we'll give our new day a try.

SitRep

It's just after 9 AM. I have a load of boy laundry in the washer, a dish full of dishes but the dishwasher is half full, dinner is in the crock pot, and the cookie dough for Damon's presentation tomorrow is chilling in the fridge. I figured I better blog now before I get busy again with the latest project. What dummy decided removing wallpaper and painting during the end of the school year would be a good idea, again? 

I blame Delores.

Before-ish

The boys are definitely related to me in that they appreciate destruction. Teehee. 

Carrie, and Precious, unfazed by the mess.

The current state of affairs:

Having a hard time removing the adhesive at the top of that wine colored wall where the border had affixed straight to the paint. We've tried the water-and-fabric-softener route, and plain water, and soapy water, and the Goo Gone followed by soapy water already. Guess it's time to tear down the wall and start over.

If you need me, I'll be chiseling away the last  (hopefully) of the dried glue, sanding (yes, Mommee, I have a dust mask), scrubbing, and otherwise dancing around on my step ladder.

At least until it's time to drop everything to run Carrie to karate, bake Damon's cookies and help him put the finishing touches on his presentation for tomorrow and then the wax museum one on Friday, along with the myriad of other things that I hope to cross off my list. Yesterday I got all the sunroom curtains washed and hung outside to dry. They're on the guest bed in the hopes that they'll stay tidy until we've painted, but as we have at least one boy who vaults on big beds to do backflips no matter how many times we've admonished him not to, my hopes are not terribly high for them staying wrinkle-free. At least they smell good.